lan sizhui ♪ the untamed (open post)

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Do you believe it or are you just agreeing with me?

[is he teasing? hmmm, maybe just a little! and please, jin ling, there's nothing wrong with that, either.]

[fairyherder]

Of course I believe it!

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Okay, I was just making sure!

[following an extraordinarily long couple of seconds:] What makes me different?

[fairyherder]

That's...

[ fuck what does he say he's not someone who gives out compliments and now he's just getting embarrassed. ]

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[wuh-oh, was that a mistake? sizhui's uncertain either way; backpedaling, however, seems safe enough.]

You— Nevermind, it's okay, you don't have to answer that.

[fairyherder]

[ oh no he messed up. why is he never good with things like this did he make him upset now? ]

You're just. Different. Good different.

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[no, he didn't mess up, sizhui did! he should've known better than to put him on the spot like that— and yet he gets an answer anyway.

a good one, even, by jin ling standards.] This might be selfish to say: I like being different.

[fairyherder]

Good. That's... that's good.

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How are you feeling now?

[fairyherder]

What? Why do you ask?

[ safe to say he's been properly distracted. both from hangover and from being mad at Jingyi. ]

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[...the hangover is why he's asking, jin ling, please. (at least jingyi's been too tired to complain like he usually might or else the jin sect heir might've had that continuous problem as well.)]

You did get sick last night, so I feel like that's a proper thing to ask.

[fairyherder]

... oh.

I'm fine.

[ he has a splitting headache and he wants to sleep, but he's stuck doing reports, and he's only been procrastinating doing them by texting Sizhui. and he's not about to admit he's weak and whiny. ]

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Are you sure?

[because if there's anything he can do to help, you can bet sizhui's going to try. again, he knows how jin ling is, but for whatever it may be worth: he doesn't think it'd be either of those things.]

I might have some leftover ginger candies that could help any remaining nausea.

[fairyherder]

[ he knows that. he also just wants to look impressive really. or simply doesn't know how to accept help, that's probably more likely. ]

... don't you need them yourself?

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No, I don't. I'm fine.

[perhaps not entirely, but this will give them a reason to see each other again.]

[fairyherder]

[ they're equally bad at this. but... the idea of Sizhui coming by is more appealing than the stack of papers on his table that he doesn't want to look at.

he takes a couple minutes before he replies. ]

Okay.

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[they are, though that could be exactly why sizhui's trying so hard to be accommodating; he knows this is new territory, is well-aware treading with caution is important, and yet—

meanwhile, he doesn't miss a beat:] It might take a little bit.

But I'll be there, okay?

[fairyherder]

[ it's just like Sizhui to try and be accommodating and reassuring and he just huffs a little, sends another text before putting his phone down. he should try to be responsible in the meantime. ]

It's fine. You don't need to reassure me, I'm not a child.

[ it's not like he's dying. ]

text → action;

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[no, he isn't a child, but the fact he got a response from is all the reassurance sizhui needs. thankfully, it doesn't take long to gather his things and – after a brief pit-stop to plead with hanguang-jun to let him go from his studies a bit early – he heads out.

by the time he reaches lanling from guangling, the sun has sunk low on the horizon; stunning pinks and reds are scattered across the sky as he greets the guards at the gate. purples and blues are what follow the whole way to jin ling's room, his pace quickening each time he gets past other sect members. some greet him, sizhui at least has the courteous to return the gesture then makes a soft excuse about being in a hurry. it's out of sheer luck, he makes it there as fast as he does.

sizhui hesitates outside the bedroom door anyhow, clenching his fingers around his sword, pinching the small candies against his palm, taking a deep breath in and sighing it back out before he finally reaches to knock.]

Jin Ling? [or does he call him by his more proper name now? he isn't sure but—] It's me, Lan Sizhui.

[...just in case.]

Re: text → action;

[fairyherder]

[ when Sizhui said it'd take a little bit, he didn't think he was going to come along the same day. in Jin Ling's mind, the candies had merely been an excuse for the visit, even if it had been for the next day. it's already late, and Jin Ling is well aware of the Lan's sleeping schedule and how they rarely strayed from it. the more logical choice would have been to travel in the morning to arrive before noon.

so when there's a knock on his door and the sound of the familiar voice through it, Jin Ling startles, wavers and stares at the door for a moment before he remembers himself, and, halfway out of his chair, replies. ]

A-ah... it's open, come in.

[ of course he knows it's Sizhui. no one in Carp Tower calls him by his birth name, wouldn't dare take the name in their mouth. ]

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[what would've been the point of waiting to bring him the candy when he'll likely feel better the next day? flying by sword takes a lot of energy, there's no doubt about that, but this is— it's important, sleep schedule be damned. (yes, of course, there are surely more important things than delivering ginger drops in person. like, uh, the paperwork the other boy's forgoing? sizhui won't say anything so long as the jin ling doesn't.)

being given the go-ahead and after tucking the candies away in his robes, he opens the door, gracefully steps through then shuts it again behind himself.

he hadn't greeted him with ‘jin-zongzhu’ or ‘sect leader’ but sizhui does circle his arms around in front of himself, both hands around his sword while he bends forward into a bow.] Hello, [comes the more proper acknowledgement, followed by an immediate,] I'm sorry, it's later than I expected. I hope I didn't disturb you.

[from where he's standing, it doesn't seem as if jin ling might've been dozing. however, the lan disciple hasn't exactly made any attempt at moving closer to get a better look (yet).]

[fairyherder]

[ the point... the point was that Jin Ling figured he could weather the headache and the pain of the hangover because he wanted to prove something. something he doesn't even need to prove, in the long run.

Sizhui looks tired, and who wouldn't be, traveling that far in such little time. Jin Ling's eyes widens at the bow, that's... wrong, coming from Sizhui, though he knows its customary. they're not in an official setting now, though, just the two of them in Jin Ling's... private quarters. he stuffs that thought to the side for his own bow in return before he can remember himself and then he frowns, moving around the table to stand in front of Sizhui, hands hovering awkwardly at his sides for a moment before he hesitantly moves to push Sizhui's arms up. ]

Sizhui— Stop. Don't do that. Bowing.

[ he sighs a little, feeling the itch in his bones after having sat down all day. his desk is still covered in papers, the pile not feeling much smaller than it was a couple of hours ago. ]

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[but of course jin ling thinks he has something to prove when it's quite the opposite; sizhui doesn't expect him to suffer through the inconvenience just because it'll make him ‘tougher’ or whatever. how counter-productive in the long run!

he's definitely weary, shown in the way he doesn't quite straighten all the way after jin ling approaches and reaches for his arms to help him back upright. sizhui blinks, eyelashes fluttering too slowly for it to be mistaken for anything except fatigue, but he squares his shoulders, lowers his arms just enough so they aren't standing there awkwardly with jin ling holding them. the instinctive thing to do is apologize a second time, though his lips press together thoughtfully while he studies the nearby desk.]

I'll remember. [a beat of silence] For next time.

[then his attention redirects to jin ling, he shifts an arm and gingerly takes ahold of the other teen's elbow. sizhui's observant enough, it's nothing for him to offer,] Would you like— [maybe don't ask to help yet?] —to talk a walk?

[fairyherder]

[ take a walk or drop into bed, either sounds good, and he hates the jittery feeling that pushes through his own exhaustion because it is late. he narrows his eyes a tad at Sizhui's suggestion, at the way he sort of sways. he doesn't shrug his hand off, partly to support him without actually showing it or offering it under the guise of Sizhui obviously attempting to... baby him? take care of him?

it doesn't help the jittery feeling at all, but he's not about to drag Sizhui around the compound when it's this close to nine pm and he looks like he's about to drop. ]

Actually, can we just stay here?

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[staying where they are is a good option, too. the main reason he'd suggested walking was to help with the jitters; some movement, no matter how slight, could've been good for him after sitting all day. lying down wouldn't be the worst option, either. jin ling scrutinizes him, sizhui's expression holds steady, unwavering from the calm and collected facade he's carefully holding together. just nevermind the fact he looks like his knees might give out at any time, it's fine, at least he's not listing.

he does eventually have to look away though, casts his gaze downward before jin ling ends up noticing the bleary look in his eyes.] Mmn, [is the noise of agreement he initially offers then he tucks his sword underneath his arm, reaches into his robes and produces three prewrapped ginger drops.]

It isn't much... but even just one should help any leftover ailments.